Adoption Program

A Rewarding Experience

The BLM uses its Adoption Program as the primary tool to place these iconic animals into private care. The horses and burros available for adoption come from overpopulated Herd Management Areas where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals, including wildlife and livestock, use the area.

Many people have found it personally challenging and rewarding to adopt a wild horse or burro. Additionally, it is a chance to care for, and then own, a part of America’s heritage. The BLM has placed more than 230,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971. Many of those animals have become excellent pleasure, show, or work horses.

After properly caring for an animal for one year, an adopter is eligible to receive title, or ownership, from the Federal government.

A list of common questions and answers related to adoptions is available at the How to Adopt page. For more information on BLM adoptions and locations, please visit the adoption schedule. To apply to adopt a wild horse or burro, go to the BLM's adoption application. If you are interested in adopting directly from one of the BLM's holding facilities, or over the Internet, visit the agency's facilities page. You also can adopt through the Mustang Heritage Foundation's Extreme Mustang Makeover Events.

Adopters often have questions about caring for their wild horse or burro. Contact your local farrier, veterinarian, or horse trainer for more information. The Mustang Heritage Foundation's Trainer Incentive Program (TIP) is an additional resource for finding horse trainers.

If you can't adopt but still want to help, you can volunteer, serve on advisory committees, or donate funds to assist wild horses and burros. More details are available at the Get Involved section.